Budget-Friendly Finds: Affordable handguns with Exceptional Value

[Prof Young]

The local Buchheit has a 38 spl with rosewood handles for only $250. I'm tempted to get one due to the price. Can't recall the make, but it's not some weird off brand.
Life is good.
Prof Young

[Drm50]

I would rather have one top shelf firearm than a basket of 2rd rate stuff. In the world of plastic this is actually a little harder to sort out. S&W and Ruger seem to me to be the same quality as Glock and SIG, FN in plastics.

[jetinteriorguy]

Originally Posted by Webleymkv

Did you test them at full-lockup (trigger held all the way to the rear)? If you didn't that may be the source of the problem. Rock Island/Armscor revolvers use a modified version of the old Colt double-pawl lockwork (modified in that they replaced the Colt V-Spring with a coil mainspring and separate trigger return spring). This differs from the more common S&W, Ruger, Taurus, Rossi, and Charter Arms lockworks in that the Colt and RIA hands stay in contact with the ratchet throughout the trigger stroke (S&W and Ruger hands leave contact with the ratchet after the cylinder stop engages the cylinder). This is why, at full lockup, an older Colt revolver (and by extension, an RIA) should have no perceptible rotational play in the cylinder (sometimes called the Colt "bank vault" lockup) while many other brands like S&W, Ruger, Taurus, Rossi, and Charter: the Colt/RIA cylinder is being held in place by both the cylinder stop and pressure from the hand.

Because of how the double-pawl lockwork operates, there needs to be a bit of "wiggle room" in the cylinder when the hammer is cocked but the trigger not yet pulled because if there wasn't, the action would bind as the hand would still be trying to rotate the cylinder while the cylinder stop is preventing further rotation. I've seen several Colt revolvers that, if cocked slowly, didn't rotate far enough for the cylinder stop to drop into its recess in the cylinder but, once the trigger is pulled, the hand rotates the cylinder just that smidge further to lock into place properly.

Interesting what you say about how Colts lock up. I’ve recently acquired one of the new model Pythons and I’ve noticed in DA how it doesn’t fully lock up until the very last bit of trigger movement, but in SA it locks up tight with the hammer fully cocked. And as you say both Smith’s and Rugers all lock up much earlier in the cycle. I’m guessing that the small amount of trigger travel after the sear is tripped finishes locking the Pythons cylinder before the hammer falls all the way. It’s kind of scary to observe when dry firing but works perfect every time.

[platform]

Taurus G3C or even G2C are unbeatable in value, performance, concealability.
I would be interested to learn if anything has lower costs, *and* higher performance + concealability than G3C.

By performance I mean a composite of: round count in a mag, reliability, how easy it is rock the slide, and how well it groups (factory setup from a benchrest).

[CajunBass]

I'm not a semi-auto guy, but I gotta agree with you on the Taurus G3. I forget what I paid for mine, but it wasn't much. So far it has failed to do anything except send rounds downrange and make holes in the paper about where I expected them to show up. I don't shoot it a lot, I'm a revolver guy at heart, but it ain't bad.

Same for my Taurus 327 revolver. Six shot, 327 Federal Magnum, 3" barrel, bobbed hammer, night sights, decent trigger (It's not a Python, but it's not bad) for a J-frame size gun. Plus it's drilled and tapped, and has a mounting plate for an RDS from the factory. I guess I've got about 800 rounds through mine now, mostly 32 Long I admit but a fair number of both 327 Fed Mag, and 32 H&R Mag also. About $400 vs the almost $800 for a S&W UC in 32 (which I've never actually seen).

[Ricklin]

As my eyes get older along with the rest of me, I have come to deeply appreciate a good red dot sight.
That said, I throw up in my mouth a little when I see one on a revolver. Some things just should not be put together.

[TheFlash]

What about S&W's new SD9 2.0?
(Is that what the OP meant by S&W M&P? I think the M&P is a separate product family than the SD series.)

[stuckinthe60s]

an old high standard sentinal mk2. basically a dan Wesson remark.

[Webleymkv]

Originally posted by stuckinthe60s
an old high standard sentinal mk2. basically a dan Wesson remark.

In my experience, a lot of High Standard's guns are highly under-appreciated. My father and I once went in together to buy a used High Standard Sentinel Deluxe .22 revolver as a birthday gift for my grandfather and, IIRC, we paid $100 for it. While it had a lot of finish wear and wasn't much to look at, that gun is an excellent shooter (Dad still has it as Grandpa has since passed away). I also have an old High Standard K-120 Riot shotgun that I bought from a batch of police trade-ins for a very reasonably price ($185 IIRC) and it's one of the slickest, fastest-cycling pump shotguns I've ever fired.

[micromontenegro]

an old high standard sentinal mk2. basically a dan Wesson remark.

I have one of those. A really really nice revolver at a bargain price

[Armybrat]

For a good quality compact 9mm single stack 7+1, this Kahr CW9 is hard to beat at $245.

https://grabagun.com/firearms/handgu...k-3-5-7-1.html

[Dfariswheel]

A serious contender for a current "Best Buy" is the Sarsilmaz SAR2000, available in both a black finish and stainless steel.

The slide and frame are forged steel, the barrel is mirror polished hammer forged.
It's a copy of a copy of the CZ-75.
It's an almost exact copy of the Tanfoglio/EAA Witness small frame in 9mm.
17 round magazines and perfectly smooth with no burrs or machine marks inside or out.......

Price range runs as low as sub $400 for stainless steel.

[eastbank]

by shooting the clay shotgun games for over 50+ years i have gained a insight about what works and what don,t on the clay fields and the cheaper shotguns come and go and cheaper may hold out sometimes, but in the long run i found cry when you buy and laugh when it lasts. on my newest trap gun i bought 14 years ago used from a friend who quit because of failing eye sight a browning BT-100 and have fired over 40,000 shells thru it, and only replacing a fireing pin last month that cost 28.00 and that i installed myself.

[mrray13]

Originally Posted by Skans

S&W 659 - generally can be found under $500, rock solid all stainless 9mm which will outlast your great great great grandchild. A bit thick in the hand - small hands need not apply!

IME, the second gens are harder to find, and more expensive, than the third gens. Both generations are tanks. They are relialbe, accurate and if one shops around, decently priced.

[stinkeypete]

Bersa Thunder .380 runs about $300. I think it's amazing.

Can't make 'em much simpler. Great trigger. Big enough to get your paws around and aim. I like the S/DA with safety design.

If you think .380 isn't 'big enough'... well, you be you.

[farmlife247]

I'm a little surprised I'm the first to mention the PSA Dagger. This is a damn good revisioning of the G19 and is also available in a full size (G17 size) and micro (G43x size). These can be had on sale for under $300 (sometimes close to $200) and are reliable and accurate. They accept Glock mags, but the PSA mags and Magpul PMAGs function just as well in them.

[10-96]

I'm glad Pete made a pitch for the Bersa Thunder line. Those are darn solid little firearms. In the 27 years I've been tinkering at broke guns, I dont think I've ever been asked to look at one that hasn't been bubba'd and screwed up by the owner. I don't know why they don't get more recognition.

[Nathan]

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1095673285

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1094379497

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1092173332

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1092194974


I’m not telling you to buy any of those, but I am telling you that a S&W is a good revolver and that j frames and model 10’s can go cheap.

[Shoots Left]

I don’t know if either of these qualify as exceptional values but locally I’ve found a brand new Springfield Armory SA-35 for $629.99 at one LGS and a used (but looks unfired good) Sig Sauer P230SL, 380ACP for $499.00 at another.

From what little I know it appears that the SA-35 is pretty much as good a price that they go for.

As for the Sig, I don’t know if that’s a fair price or not but I kinda like it. Another thing about the Sig is that I’m pretty sure it’s a 230 and not a 232 as it has the machined front sight, 12 cocking serrations and it’s stamped Made In W. Germany on the slide.

I'm currently not really in the market for another handgun but if I'm on to something here I might be open to buying one of these.

Thoughts?

[Nathan]

locally I’ve found a brand new Springfield Armory SA-35 for $629.99

That's a fair price. . .I paid $554 for a new one off gunbroker, but paid $25 to ship and $25 to transfer and then tax.

I think someone who is more relaxed at bidding could pay $480-$520 pretty easy for a new one off Gunbroker.

[totaldla]

Concealed carry:

Keltec P15 sells $199, is 22oz loaded with 13 rounds of 124gr. The best cheap 4" barrel CC pistol.

The SCCY DVG-1, $180, 22oz with (11) 124gr

I have a lot of experience with both:
https://sites.google.com/site/hobbyh...iew?authuser=0
https://sites.google.com/site/hobbyh...iew?authuser=0

I bought my M&P40c 2.0 for $299 (,Glock 23 copy), but at 36oz loaded, I wouldn't consider it a good choice for CC - obviously you can conceal almost anything.

[Bill DeShivs]

I find that most Keltec Pistols are exceptional values.

[GEM38]

Deleted.

[Ricklin]

The couple of Keltec's I've owned were both in need of what the Keltec guys like to call a fluff and buff. Basically finish what the factory could not afford to do. Polishing the feed ramp is part of the deal. After an hour or so of fluffing and buffing? Keltec is an awesome value as long as you are willing to do what they did not.
I've also an SCCY, 199 bucks with a red dot integrated. Absolutely HATE the trigger, reminiscent of toys. 100% reliable and adequate accuracy. The trigger has a "boing" to it, like a spring releasing quickly, WORST trigger ever.

[totaldla]

Originally Posted by Ricklin

The couple of Keltec's I've owned were both in need of what the Keltec guys like to call a fluff and buff. Basically finish what the factory could not afford to do. Polishing the feed ramp is part of the deal. After an hour or so of fluffing and buffing? Keltec is an awesome value as long as you are willing to do what they did not.
I've also an SCCY, 199 bucks with a red dot integrated. Absolutely HATE the trigger, reminiscent of toys. 100% reliable and adequate accuracy. The trigger has a "boing" to it, like a spring releasing quickly, WORST trigger ever.

That's nice. So special of you to share your out of context experiences.